Anne McCaffrey RIP

**Hobbit** · November 22nd, 2011, 04:21 PM

Just hearing from Adam Roberts via Twitter that Anne McCaffrey has died.

Am waiting for official confirmation but it does sound true.

If so, she will be sorely missed by her legions of fans.

More news as we get it.

Mark

**Loerwyn** · November 22nd, 2011, 04:24 PM

Source here, Mark.

It is indeed a sad day. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

**NickeeCoco** · November 22nd, 2011, 04:37 PM

That is sad. She was one of my favourite authors as a child. I wrote to her when I was about twelve. She sent a personalized letter back and an autographed bookplate. Thoughts go out to her friends and family.

**Radone** · November 22nd, 2011, 04:38 PM

This was expected given her age and her health problems, but it is still a sad day. Like a kick in the stomach. I will always admire how she lived her life on her own terms. I will always love her books.

**tmso** · November 22nd, 2011, 05:36 PM

I sad day, indeed. I too mourn her passing.

May legions more enjoy her books.

**Gilliam** · November 22nd, 2011, 08:23 PM

This is very sad news. I really enjoyed her Pern series during my teens. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

**Contrarius** · November 22nd, 2011, 08:31 PM

CJ Cherryh's blog says she had a massive stroke.

**Rob B** · November 22nd, 2011, 08:45 PM

Like lots of folks, I read a handful of her early Pern novels though at a later age than most. I liked them and think the genre has lost another giant.

I wouldn't be surprised to see an award named after her.

**KatG** · November 22nd, 2011, 11:23 PM

She was part of my childhood and I will remember the stories of hers that meant something to me. She opened a lot of doors for other female SFFH writers and believed firmly in mentoring. She wrote about people in pain and how they learned to deal with that pain and build something from it, and she made the political and social personal. Her popularity opened up SFF to a lot of new readers, including being one of the writers who early on drew me in. I did not get into her writing in later years -- I felt it changed, which may have been related to her health -- but I appreciate the craftsmanship and thoughtfulness which always went into her characters and creations. Menolly and Helva are still with me and they still sing. She will be missed.

**Jon Sprunk** · November 23rd, 2011, 08:31 AM

She was an icon. The world is a poorer place for her passing.

**zakhrin** · November 23rd, 2011, 09:35 AM

You made me discover this wonderfull genre of litterature and Pern will always be in my heart.

R.I.P dear Anne.

**Jennifer P** · November 23rd, 2011, 10:11 AM

She also essentially created the modern fantasy dragon - the elegant, gentle yet fierce companion to mankind as opposed to the greed-wrapped monster of traditional western myth.

**BlueAngel** · November 23rd, 2011, 11:27 AM

I was really surprised and saddened by this. I hadn't know how old she was.

I own two trilogies of the DragonRiders of Pern series. I loved that world, and those amazing alien dragons. I've always dreamed of flying on the back of a dragon, and Pern brought that notion to life in such a unique way. I need to read some of the later books, too.

I always hate it when a great creative mind leaves us.

~Angela

**Gkarlives** · November 23rd, 2011, 12:01 PM

This is a sad thing for me. Her first Dragonriders of Pern series is one of my favorites and although I lost interest in her later works, I will still remember her fondly.